Serious Questions for CYMFed

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ~ 3 Jn 4

If you're bringing your kids up in the faith, you know you are up against it. They are constantly bombarded with the prevalent secular agenda. They're frankly heroic if they can avoid or ignore or counter the temptations and ideology that surrounds them today. They are constantly told that "God is dead", that religion causes wars, that abortion, contraception, pornography are healthy and normal and freeing.

Why then, would you want them exposed to speakers at variance with Church teaching at a Church organised event?

Clare Short, over at Faith in our Families, draws attention to just this agenda at next year's Flame Congress. CYMFed (Catholic Youth Ministry Federation – England and Wales) are the organisers of Flame 2 which they describe as

“…the largest National Catholic Youth event of 2015, taking place in the SSE Wembley Arena on Saturday 7th March 2015… The SSE Wembley Arena will be filled with 10,000 young people from across the country, receiving faith-filled inspiration from world-class speakers… Flame2 is open to anyone in school year ten and above, up to young adult (i.e. aged approx. 14-21).”

Confirmed speakers include Cardinal Luis Tagle from Manila, Philippines (awesome); Baroness Sheila Hollins; (awesome) and Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP. Errrr...Fr. Timothy who said of homosexuality:

“How does all of this bear on the question of gay sexuality? We cannot begin with the question of whether it is permitted or forbidden! We must ask what it means, and how far it is Eucharistic. Certainly it can be generous, vulnerable, tender, mutual and non-violent. So in many ways, I would think that it can be expressive of Christ’s self-gift. We can also see how it can be expressive of mutual fidelity, a covenantal relationship in which two people bind themselves to each other for ever.”

Fr. Timothy who used his address to the Divine Mercy Conference in Dublin as an opportunity to criticise the traditional Catholic understanding of the importance of teaching fellow sinners dogmatic and moral truths that safeguard the divine truths entrusted to the Church by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Timothy who's dissent was investigated on EWTN's Celtic Connections?

Fr. Timothy who has expressed the hope that Pope Francis will allow divorced and re-married Catholics to receive Holy Communion, despite this being a doctrinal contradiction?

Fr. Timothy who is one of the celebrants of the controversial Soho Masses?

I could go on, but Clare does an excellent job of expressing her concerns here, please do read it. She has clearly gone to some lengths to try and get answers as to why it is felt he is an appropriate figure. It is clear he has been a popular speaker in the past, but doesn't that make it worse? If he impresses our youth, and is promoted as a Catholic leader, and they then discover his views, which are at variance with Catholic teaching, surely they will conclude that it is OK to be at variance with what the Church teaches?

The lack of clarity, the confusion over what we believe and what the Church teaches as the faith is what is choking the faith in our country. Why can we not just stick to the script for goodness sake?!!

Clare believes parents and youth ministers alike would send their kids to this event in good faith, not realising that Radcliffe holds these views. If people want their kids to listen to a speaker like Radcliffe then fine, but is the responsibility of CYMFed to be honest as to what they are providing.

Perhaps you might be wondering who the Church leader in charge of this event is? Surely he should be providing some doctrinal direction and support? You might well think that, but the "Bishop for Youth" and "Supporting Bishop" for CYMFed was none other than our old compromised friend, (ex) Bishop Kieran Conry. Dear oh dear.

+Kieran explaining to some young people why they don't need to bother about all that "teaching" nonsense?

I am looking forward to her getting a straight answer on this.